Sri Lanka’s cricket chief Arjuna Ranatunga was drawn into the debate on whether cricketers, who already earn lucrative salaries should be allowed to play India’s domestic cricket league. Sri Lanka’s leading cricketers were auctioned a few weeks back and all of them secured handsome deals which range from almost 1million US Dollars to 200,000 US Dollars.

Along with several senior players of the 1996 side, Ranatunga earned a pittance compared to what players are paid now and he even refused to appear in any commercials endorsing products.

At a media conference yesterday at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters Ranatunga was asked about the Indian Premier League and the dangers facing cricketers overall. "I have no problems with cricketers earning money when they get an opportunity, but it’s the young players who can lose focus with money. I hope this will not be the case and that cricket will not be a business. The problem will start when money ruins the focus of young players," Ranatunga said.